Battle over Texas Chapter 10 Sec. 2 By Mr. Linder

Americans move to Texas  Mexico invited Americans to move to Texas.  Stephen F. Austin starts the 1 st American colony on the lower Colorado River in  The colony was successful! More Americans came for “free” land.

Stephen F. Austin (Austin, TX)

What did Americans Have to Do?  Americans had to do the following to gain land from Mexico in Texas: Obey Mexican Laws Obey Mexican Laws Become Catholic Become Catholic Speak Spanish Speak Spanish No Slavery – Slavery illegal No Slavery – Slavery illegal  Pretty easy to do!

Why Did Mexico Open Land to Americans?  More Roads  Schools  Economy  Money $$$  Businesses  (all this and more is good for Mexico)

Mexico Stops Americans  Antonio Lopez de Santa Ana becomes ruler of Mexico  Mexico is nervous about the # of American settlers coming to Mexico.  Santa Ana bans further settlement / immigration to Mexico.

Antonio Lopez de Santa Ana

Texans Revolt!  In Oct the Mexican army tried to remove a cannon from Gonzalez TX.  Rebels stood next to the cannon with a flag that read “come and get it!”  Rebels fight Mexican Army and win!  Texas wants to become an independent country!

The Alamo!  March 2 nd 1836, Texans declare independence from Mexico!  Sam Houston is leader of the Texas Army – goes to U.S. to seek $$ and help!  Santa Ana finds out and is ANGRY! He puts together an army of thousands to CRUSH the Texans!

The Alamo Continued!  Colonel Jim Travis took a small army and held up in an old abandoned mission called the Alamo.  Volunteers came to help – Davy Crockett, Jim Bowie, helped fight (but they died)!  200 rebels vs. an army of 1,000’s held off the Mexican Army for 13 days.

Jim Bowie

David Bowie (No Relation)

Davy Crockett

Davy Crockett – Frontiersman

The Alamo!

Flag over Alamo

Battle of San Jacinto  Texans took a stand with Sam Houston at the Jacinto River.  Santa Ana was confident about success. While his troops were taking a nap...  Houston’s army rushed the camp shouting “Remember the Alamo!” “Goliad”  Texans captured Santa Ana & forced him to sign a treaty giving Texas it’s independence!

Sam Houston (Houston, TX)

Texas – A New Nation  Sam Houston Elected President of Texas  Stephen Austin elected Secretary of state.  The U.S. recognized Texas as a country, but would not admit it as a state. This would upset the balance of slave vs. free states.  Mexico did not recognize Texas’s Independence until  The Texas Rangers were formed to protect Texas!